Automatic and configurable viewpoint switching in a 3D scene

Abstract

A method and apparatus for automatically changing a user's avatar's displayed view perspective in a virtual world upon execution of a gesture by the avatar, and in which the view perspective is changed for each gesture. The configuration of the view perspective switching specifies an action, a speed, a position and a return time. An avatar implementing the present invention allows the user to avoid manual view perspective switching which interferes with the immersive environment of a virtual world.

What we claim is: 
     
       1. A method for automatically changing the displayed perspective for an avatar in a virtual world traversed by a user's avatar when a gesture is executed by the avatar, said method comprising the steps of: traversing said virtual world with an avatar;   displaying a view perspective for said avatar in said virtual world;   requesting said avatar to execute said gesture;   programmatically displaying a new view perspective for said avatar, said new view perspective being programmably associated with said gesture;   executing said gesture after said new perspective has been established; and   programmatically switching from said new perspective back to the previously displayed perspective used in traversing said virtual world.   
     
     
       2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said new view perspective is configured by said user. 
     
     
       3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said new view perspective is configured for each said gesture. 
     
     
       4. A method as claimed in claim 3 further comprises selecting a view perspective action to be executed when said gesture is requested. 
     
     
       5. A method as claimed in claim 3 further comprising selecting a view perspective animation speed at which perspective display switching is performed to and from said new view perspective. 
     
     
       6. A method as claimed in claim 3 further comprising selecting a view perspective position for said new perspective display. 
     
     
       7. A method as claimed in claim 3 further comprising selecting a return time delay to be executed after said gesture completes and before reverting to said previous view perspective. 
     
     
       8. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein said view perspective action is chosen from the set comprising no action, a complete view perspective switch to a new view perspective, or a display of said new view perspective in a new display window. 
     
     
       9. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein said view perspective position is configured, by including the steps of: selecting a location in said virtual world from which said view perspective originates; and   selecting a direction in which said view perspective is directed.   
     
     
       10. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said location and said direction are each configured as a set of three dimensional coordinates relative to said avatar's location. 
     
     
       11. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said direction configuration is programmatically determined to direct the new view perspective at said avatar. 
     
     
       12. A computer system wherein a user's view perspective in a displayed virtual world is automatically changed upon a user's avatar execution of a gesture in sad world, said computer system comprising: means for traversing said virtual world with an avatar;   means for requesting said avatar to execute said gesture;   means for programmatically displaying a new view perspective associated with said gesture;   means for executing said gesture after said new view perspective has been established; and   means for programmatically switching from said new view perspective back to the previously displayed view perspective used in traversing said virtual world.   
     
     
       13. A computer system as claimed in claim 12 wherein said new view perspective is configured by said user. 
     
     
       14. A computer system as claimed in claim 12 wherein a new said view perspective is configured each said gesture. 
     
     
       15. A computer system as claimed in claim 14 wherein said configuration comprises selecting a view perspective action to be executed when said gesture is requested. 
     
     
       16. A computer system as claimed in claim 14 wherein said configuration comprises selecting a view perspective animation speed for switching to and from said new view perspective. 
     
     
       17. A computer system as claimed in claim 14 wherein said configuration comprises selecting a view perspective position for said new view perspective. 
     
     
       18. A computer system as claimed in claim 14 wherein said configuration comprises selecting a delay to be executed after said gesture completes and before animating back to the previously displayed view perspective. 
     
     
       19. A computer system as claimed in claim 15 wherein said view perspective action is chosen from the set comprising no action, a complete view perspective switch to said new view perspective or a display of said new view perspective in a new display window. 
     
     
       20. A computer system as claimed in claim 17 further comprising: means for selecting a location in said virtual world from which said view perspective originates; and   means for selecting a direction in which said view perspective is directed.   
     
     
       21. A computer system as claimed in claim 20 wherein said location and said direction are each configured as a set of three dimensional coordinates relative to said avatar's location. 
     
     
       22. A computer system as claimed in claim 20 wherein said direction configuration is programmatically determined to direct the new view perspective at said avatar. 
     
     
       23. A computer program product on a computer-readable media wherein a user's view perspective in a virtual world is automatically changed upon executing a gesture, said computer program product comprising: computer-readable program code means for traversing said virtual world with an avatar;   computer-readable program code means for requesting said avatar to execute said gesture;   computer-readable program code means for programmatically displaying a new view perspective associated with said gesture;   computer-readable program code means for executing said gesture after said new view perspective has been established; and   computer-readable program code means for programmatically switching from said new view perspective back to the view perspective used in traversing said virtual world.   
     
     
       24. A computer program product as claimed in claim 23 wherein said new view perspective is configured by said user. 
     
     
       25. A computer program product as claimed in claim 23 wherein a new said view perspective is configured for each gesture. 
     
     
       26. A computer program product as claimed in claim 25 wherein said configuration comprises selecting a view perspective action to be executed when said gesture is requested. 
     
     
       27. A computer program product as claimed in claim 25 wherein said configuration comprises selecting a view perspective animation speed at which view perspective switching is performed to and from said new view perspective. 
     
     
       28. A computer program product as claimed in claim 25 wherein said configuration comprises selecting a view perspective position for said new view perspective. 
     
     
       29. A computer program product as claimed in claim 25 wherein said configuration comprises selecting a time delay to be executed after said gesture completes and before animating back to the previously displayed view perspective. 
     
     
       30. A computer program product as claimed in claim 26 wherein said view perspective action is configured from the set comprising no action, a complete view perspective switch to a new view perspective or a display of said new view perspective in a new display window. 
     
     
       31. A computer program product as claimed in claim 28 further comprising: computer-readable program code means for selecting a location in said virtual world from which said view perspective originates; and   computer-readable program code means for selecting a direction in which said view perspective is directed.   
     
     
       32. A computer program product as claimed in claim 31 wherein said location and said direction are each configured as a set of three dimensional coordinates relative to said avatar's location. 
     
     
       33. A computer program product as claimed in claim 31 wherein said direction configuration is programmatically determined to direct the new view perspective at said avatar.